Children’s Culture Festival: Icelandic monsters and peculiar creatures come to life

At the Children’s Culture Festival in Reykjavík, the National Museum of Iceland is exhibiting works by students in the seventh grade at Laugalækjarskóli and the third, fifth, and sixth grades at Grandaskóli, who interpret Icelandic mythical creatures in diverse and original ways.

Students at Laugalækjarskóli learned about mythical creatures in their Icelandic lessons this winter. They then went on a field trip to the National Museum, where they explored historical sources on well-known Icelandic mythical creatures, such as the Christmas Cat and dragons. Following the visit, the students collaborated with the school’s art and crafts teachers to create their own mythical creatures for the festival.

At Grandaskóli, students in the third, fifth, and sixth grades read folktales and texts about various monsters and unusual creatures in Icelandic nature. They imagined what these creatures looked like without using visual references and then created them as sculptures or paintings. Some of the works even evolved into new Icelandic spirits and creatures.

The students’ works are on display in the children’s and family space of the National Museum of Iceland during the Reykjavík Children’s Culture Festival, from Tuesday, April 21, until the end of the week.

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